Director's MessageWelcome to Our Spring 2023 Issue!
This issue of The Mindset from Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University is centered around the concept of Empathy, the most fundamental and essential aspect of an Entrepreneurial Mindset.
The “Golden Rule” that many of us grew up with states that one should “Treat others as YOU would want to be treated”. The foundation of entrepreneurial thinking is rooted in this basic concept but with an important twist. For an Entrepreneur, the Golden Rule reads “Treat others as THEY would want to be treated.” Changing that one word from “you” to “they” actually changes everything. The mission of one practicing the Entrepreneurial Mindset is now transformed from one of inner reflection to one of external understanding.
There is a remarkable consistency between Jesuit thought and the Entrepreneurial Mindset. Consider how the Jesuit concepts of Cura Personalis (care for the whole person) and Discernment (considering your options and understanding them in your heart) underlie all attempts at developing real empathy, which is an essential understanding of what others might be thinking or feeling.
In actual practice, developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset is a process of questioning everything, challenging and testing assumptions about others, meeting LOTS of people, and ensuring diversity of influence in all ways, including exposure to diverse thoughts and attitudes.
In this issue, we bring you some diverse perspectives on the topic of Empathy and the Entrepreneurial Mindset.
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We hope you enjoy!
Keep reading,
Chris Norris, Executive Director
Ciocca Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship |
Perspectives  | Computer Science & Engineering Professor Maya Ackerman shares how empathy plays a critical role in her research process including her recent study on gender and racial bias in venture capital, funded by Ciocca Center. Read here as Maya draws from her experience into scientific inquiry that involves the whole person. |
 | Transformation arises when empathy is applied into action. Ciocca Center's Industry Advisory Board member , applies empathy in her daily work as Founding Executive Director of the . Read here to see how Gabriela chooses progress in her various leadership roles. |
 | Her desire to understand and see her clients as humans, first, is how Account Manager at , Beverlyn Law '18, provides relevant and impactful solutions. Read how Beverlyn's care and attentiveness through open and authentic conversations helps her better support her business partners in their endeavors. |
 | Computer Science & Engineering student and Ciocca Center's Innovation Fellow Brian Wiebe '25 illustrates how empathy is the foundation for discovering solutions through design thinking. Click here to find out more about an Innovation Fellows' exploration into improving the SCU student experience. |
Broncos, Actually  | Paul-Elie Nauleau '19 Medical Device Engineer and Adjunct Lecturer shares how empathy fuels his career pursuit in creating devices to solve some of tomorrow's toughest challenges. Watch to learn about Paul's journey after graduating and also how he's come back in just 4 years as an Adjunct Lecturer! |
Student Stories  | How do we create a sense of belonging and wellbeing for those around us? Hallie Mullane '23, Program Director at Ciocca Center and graduating M.A. student in Educational Leadership, illustrates how empathy is fundamental to creating inclusive spaces. Read here to learn how to influence our surroundings and bring together people with life experiences that are different from your own. |
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People of all majors are welcome to come to Ciocca Center's first annual Entreprelooza this May 12th! Pop in for a few events through the afternoon to learn more about Entrepreneurship and the Entrepreneurial Mindset at 51³Ô¹Ï. Enjoy a day full of speakers, panels, networking, and informational booths. Register !
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 | Ciocca Center's Student Advisory Board is accepting applications for the 2023-2024 academic year. If you are interested in guiding innovation and shaping an entrepreneurial mindset on campus, this is the opportunity for you! |
 | The Bronco Venture Accelerator is currently recruiting this summer's cohort! The Accelerator empowers SCU entrepreneurs with the tools, accountability, and community to develop and grow for-profit businesses with competence, conscience, and compassion. Click here for more information! Early admission due date is June 2. |
 | Congratulations to our 2023 Spring Cohort for another successful advising session! Broncos Entrepreneurs Advisory Clinic Hours (BEACH) is crafted as an experiential program that has business and law students working together with mentors to help companies while furthering their own education and experience. If you're interested in joining our Fall Cohort, click here to find out more! |
 | Over 50 participants signed up for our Spring Pitching Module! The program exposes attendees to core concepts of design thinking, including ideation and pitching.
- Learn about the interdisciplinary program: Idea Lab
- Click here to learn more about Idea Lab which will be coming back in Fall 2023.
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 | Looking for a club or RSO on campus? Use our Club Navigator, a great way to make connections and life-long friends! The platform came out of Ciocca Center's "You Are Here" initiative, where students collaborate on creating meaningful resources for SCU students. |
A Well Lighted Place  | BEACH Program Director Clinical Fellow JD/MBA highlights the various ways students practice empathy through our Broncos Entrepreneurs Advisory Clinic Hours program. Read here to see how curiosity and approachability can build genuine connections across all stakeholders. |
 | Ciocca Center's Curriculum Development Manager, Cristina Cismas Florea '07 introduces a new course that brings together the Ignatian Center, Miller Center, and Ciocca Center! Read here to learn more about ENGR 169 to create human-centered design solutions. |
 | Ciocca Center is sponsoring SCU faculty/staff for enrollment in Design Thinking courses offered through University. See the details of IDEO U 22-23 Course Selection and Eligibility. Ciocca Center also supports through a Travel Grant, where applicants can receive up to $3K per project. Grant recipients must be presenting work in the field of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. |
 | Ciocca Center has funded two new research projects! Researchers Keyvan Kashkooli and aim to analyze the career trajectory of BIPOC founders as they exit entrepreneurial ventures. Researcher Andy El-Zayaty, takes a closer look at the impact of AI and Machine Learning Tools in a crowdfunding context.Learn more about our current projects here! |
 | Ciocca Center is funding “Innovating with a Mission”! Product design involves applying creativity and innovation in the development and fabrication of items that delight and bring value to others. This competition provides a fun and real-world opportunity for student teams to flex their product design skills in a variety of ways. Learn more here. |
 | Ciocca Center accepts Curricular Development Proposals on a rolling basis. The objective of this program is to support the development of new courses, modules, and programs that address themes that broadly relate to the topics of innovation and the entrepreneurial mindset. Learn more. |
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Upcoming Events
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May BVA Café + Prep School Graduation Celebration
4 - 7 p.m., Lucas Hall 126, Santa Clara University
We are excited to share that our May BVA Café will be combined with a special celebration - the graduation of the 2026 Bronco Ventures Accelerator Prep School cohort!
Join us for an evening of networking, community, and inspiration as we recognize the founders who have spent the past months refining their ventures and building traction. Meet the graduating teams, connect with fellow founders, investors, mentors, alumni, faculty, staff, and students, and celebrate the next wave of innovation emerging from Santa Clara University.
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Business Pitch Competition
All Day
Ciocca Center’s Business Pitch Competition takes place each spring. We use a virtual portal called Pitchtape, an asynchronous online platform where companies can record their pitches.
SCU students of all majors are encouraged to apply for a spot in the competition!
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CANCELED: BVA Cafe
6:30 p.m., Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street
Welcome to BVA Cafe, Bronco Ventures Accelerator’s Monthly Meetup where you can meet and mingle with fellow BVA entrepreneurs, mentors, advisors, and entrepreneurship-curious. Enjoy small bites while hearing updates from BVA Alumni and meeting new startup founders.
Lucas Hall, 738 Franklin Street
Terrace on the Third Floor if the weather is sunny
Lobby if rainy and cold
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Ugrad and Grad Commencement Weekend
All Day
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Ugrad and Grad Commencement Weekend
Midnight
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